Page 86 of Fighting Chance

Before I can say anything, Cindy is waving someone over that’s behind me.

“Oh my fucking god, you’re crazy.”

Bella cackles with manic laughter while Cindy just winks, flipping her bouncy hair behind her shoulder. “In the best way.”

I turn to Bella. I expect her to…I don’t know, dosomething, but all she does is gently place her finger under my chin, forcing my mouth closed. “He’s your usual type,” she whispers, lowering her voice. “Cindy’s right, if you don’t care about Kieran, you’ll be excited about this one.”

They’rebothcrazy.

Maybe the bartender got Cindy and Bella’s drinks mixed up, because what the hell is happening right now?

The guy comes to stand beside our table. Bella is right, he is my usual type, but…

He turns to me, his smile wide as he runs his fingers through his shaggy blonde hair. “Hey.”

“Hi.”

I wait for it, for the rush or zap of electricity to spark my chest, for butterflies to swarm my stomach, for his eyes to mesmerize me.

Nothing happens.

A part of my heart sinks as realization dawns on me that maybe—just maybe—the girls are right, that the flirting is more than just a game. Because why is my perfect type standing before me and I feel utterly nothing? Why do I feel more for fictionalcharacters than this man? And why the hell is Kieran’s face coming to mind, his flirty smiles and winks and taunting touches? Why do I want him here right now and not this stranger?

Goddamnit.

Cindy flashes her bright smile and I’m surprised the guy can keep his attention on me. When Cindy sets her charm on you, youlisten.

“This is Layla. She just moved back to town.”

The guy’s brows rise. “Where did you go?”

My cheeks flush slightly at the reminder of where I was and why. “Berlin,” I manage to get out coolly.

“Wow, how long did you live there?”

My shoulders slump with relief. At least he didn’t ask me why I moved. “Around seventeen months. I just got back two months ago.”

He leans against the table, trying to cut off the girls and almost soak me into his orbit, but the only orbit I’m stuck in seems to be the one hockey player with blue eyes and a cheeky tongue. This guy, as cute as he is, doesn’t look like he could goad me. If anything, he feels…lackluster.

“There’s a restaurant that opened up just down the road a few weeks back. I’d love to take you to it.”

Kieran’s face flashes across my mind again, more specifically the night he leant back, that cocky smirk dancing along his lips as we ate pasta on his couch. The fact I’m even thinking about my boss in this moment has my back straightening.

Didn’t Kieran win a date from me?

Or did he only try?

Why can’t I remember?

Probably because he tries all the damn time.

I’m about to politely decline, my lips parting, but Cindy jumps in before I can. “She’d love to!”

My eyes snap to hers. “What are you doing?” I hiss.

She just winks at me as the guy, without missing a beat, whips out his phone. “What’s your number?”

I guess I can’t really turn him down now, can I? I don’t want to embarrass the guy.